1 John 3:19 - Exposition

In this; or, hereby ἐν τούτῳ , here clearly refers to what precedes; and the thought is similar to that in 1 John 3:14 . By sincere and active love we shall come to know γνωσόμεθα that we are children of the truth. "The truth" here is almost equivalent to "God;" and we seem to have here an echo of Christ's words to Pilate, "Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice". The construction in what follows contains several doubtful points:

In all three cases the first alternative is perhaps preferable: And hereby we shall persuade our heart before him (that we are of the truth, and therefore have nothing to fear), whereinsoever our heart condemn us. But on the third point see Dr. Field's note in 'Otium Norvicense,' pars 3. Before him is very emphatic; it is in God's sight that the children of the truth are able to quiet their hearts, not merely in their own eyes. (For πείθω used absolutely, comp. Matthew 28:14 ; Acts 12:20 ; 2 Corinthians 5:11 .)